What happened to prices on Fenders over the last several years? You used to be able to buy a MIM Strat for $300, new, at any place like Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc. Now they've gone up considerably, as have the American versions. And along with this, the asking price of used ones has gone nuts. Guys are asking $400 around here, for used MIM strats! It wasn't that long ago, you could pick one up for $200. Did they all of a sudden get nicer, or are they just appreciating? I'm still kicking myself for not buying that MIJ strat I saw in a pawn shop several years ago for $175!!!!! They are selling for $600+ around here now!

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I dont know if i'm just imagining things, but it seems like the newer MIM strats & teles have thinner/weaker paint than my 2001 MIM tele.

I dont know if i'm just imagining things, but it seems like the newer MIM strats & teles have thinner/weaker paint than my 2001 MIM tele.

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I don't doubt it. I haven't shopped for guitars in 4 or 5 years. I was shocked to see Sam Ash asking $450 for a MIM Strat! They used to be $299!!! But like I said, used ones on Craigslist, are being advertised for $350-400! MIJ Strats are going for 600-800! Some guy had one recently for $275, and sold it in minutes, I know because I emailed him and told him I wanted it...but it was LONG gone!

You could buy a US made strat for $700 a few years back and now they are $1100! Luckily, those can be had used for $550 if you're patient!

I've never wanted a MIM strat, but figured if I found a cool one for the right price, I'd consider it. Cheapest one I've seen is $219, and it's a "fat" one with a humbucker...and a neck that looks like a banana!

I just can't believe Fender went up 50% or more n their prices...and the used ones are appreciating!

I now regret selling my G&L...I bought it brand new for $600...and it was very well made, nice guitar.

I found some pics of my Jackson last night. I sold this one a few years ago, but wish I still had it.

What happened to prices on Fenders over the last several years? You used to be able to buy a MIM Strat for $300, new, at any place like Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc. Now they've gone up considerably, as have the American versions. And along with this, the asking price of used ones has gone nuts. Guys are asking $400 around here, for used MIM strats! It wasn't that long ago, you could pick one up for $200. Did they all of a sudden get nicer, or are they just appreciating? I'm still kicking myself for not buying that MIJ strat I saw in a pawn shop several years ago for $175!!!!! They are selling for $600+ around here now!

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Prices are higher while quality is decreasing. Gibson is using some plastic crap on fretboards of some fairly expensive guitars. They lost a bunch of costly wood due to the government raid. They use something called Richlite on a $5700 guitar:

Fender has a big debt load due to all the other guitar companies they've bought:

Squier, Jackson, Guild, Ovation and Latin Percussion, which we own, and Gretsch, EVH (Eddie Van Halen) and Takamine, for which we are the licensee.

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They tried to go public over the last year but the markets decided they didn't have the value to actually go through with the IPO. My guess is they've raised their product prices to help cover their debt load.

Wow, I can't believe I've been on Advrider as long as I have and I'm just now finding this thread. I had a bit of an addiction with buying and selling guitars until just recently. Actually, I played for 20+ years with basically the same two guitars until 2008, and then I got caught up in the guitar forums. Since then, I've bought, sold, or traded nearly 40 guitars. I typically never have more than say five at a time; I just move one on and try something else. The past few years have been very fun, but I'm finally starting to settle down. Here are some highlights of what I've owned. Sit down and grab a coffee or a beer, this could take a while! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o><o></o>1960 Gibson LG-0: My first guitar ever. It was my mom's guitar since she went to college. Lovely little lap guitar, and one of 3 that I will never sell.<o></o><o></o><o></o>1991 American Standard Strat: Another of the three I'll never sell. My first electric, it was my absolute dream guitar when I was 12 (still is, actually) and my dad surprised me with it for my 13th birthday. <o></o><o></o><o></o>This Benedetto Bambino was my "gateway drug". It was the first guitar I lusted after in over 20 years, and it opened the flood gates to all the others that would follow. <o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>This Taylor 214E was my first nice acoustic (the first of many!):<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>This Gretsch Setzer came soon after:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Collings D1Mh (all mahogany dread). This thing was awesome and I miss it.

<o></o><o></o>1990 Gibson Les Paul 1960 Reissue pictured with my number 1 electric:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>John Mayer Strat that sounded great, but didn't compare with my '91:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>At some point, I traded the Bambino above for this Martin CF-2:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>I bought this Collings City Limits to compare to the Les Paul with the intention of only keeping one of them. The Collings won that fight.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>I don't miss many of the guitars I gave up, but this Grosh Tele is one that I do:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>This is a very old and rare "family photo" that I took. I have far less guitars now, but the ones I have are VERY good.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>My four year old daughter's Daisy Rock guitar. It actually sounds pretty good, and I've thought about using it for a song or two at a gig to make her smile! <o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A cool all-mahogany Vox I owned for a bit:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A beautiful Warmoth project Strat that I never finished:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Some amps. The Peavey 410 in the middle was my first good amp, and is the only one that remains. Something about it is perfect for me. I bought maybe 4 or 5 boutique or high end amps, and none of them ever sounded better than the Peavey to me, so luckily I avoided a major amp addiction.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A cheap partscaster that I bought. I really can't remember why.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A very nice angled Strat neck I bought at one point. Never did anything with it!<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Eastman AR-904 acoustic archtop:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>1967 Martin D-18. I sold it, and when it arrived at the new owner's house it had a cracked headstock. Damn shippers!

<o></o><o></o><o></o>An Epiphone Elitist Broadway that I bought. It showed up with 7&#8221; cracks on both &#8220;F&#8221; holes. The shippers strike again! <o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Bourgeois OMC - beautiful guitar that I just didn't like the sound of.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A Collings D1SB that I owned with the D1Mh for a while:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A stunningly gorgeous Bourgeois LC-4 limited edition archtop:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Nice back!<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Which I traded for this equally beautiful Applegate SJ in Brazilian RW:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Another nice back!<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>The 2nd Benedetto Bambino I owned, after I modified it with TV Jones Filtertrons and a Bigsby:<o></o><o></o>

A gorgeous Benedetto Bravo that I bought on eBay. The deal fell through. I can't remember why, I think I got a weird vibe from the seller and cancelled. Too bad, it looked like a great guitar:

A 1996 Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton. This one surprised me - it had such a beatifully lush sound, it's one of the ones I miss too.

AMAZINGLY gorgeous 1933 Gibson L-7. Another of the very few that I miss. I keep in touch with the new owner though, and he'll give me first right of refusal if he ever sells.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Paragon MJ:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o>Can you tell that I like nice backs? </o><o></o><o> </o><o></o>Gretsch Setzer # 2, a purple Hot Rod. I liked the orange one much better.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Eastman AR-371 (ES-175 copy) with a cool old Gibson GA-20 amp that belongs to my grandfather, but is on loan with me. The pair sounded phenomenal together!<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Ahhhh, the Benedetto Frank Vignola model. I have mixed feelings. It was so gorgeous and fun to play, and I truly wanted to love it, but it just didn't fit me somehow. She resides in Australia now.<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Collings D2HA - phenomenal guitar. I would miss it, if I didn't have a Collings acoustic that I like even more now.

<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>A Tom Bills Genesis that I lusted after for years upon years. Finally got a great deal on a used one, and alas, it's just not right for me. For sale, if anyone wants a really cool acoustic! <o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>Just look at that bracing! It's art!<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>And finally, the two guitars that are my current go-to&#8217;s, the 22 year old Strat and a Collings CJ:<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>The sad thing is, that wasn&#8217;t even all of them! :huh<o></o><o></o>Yep, I&#8217;m definitely a recovering addict&#8230;.

Awesome guitars Backdrifter! You have a great eye for those beautiful backs!

One little thing that I don't even want to comment on, is that I'm pretty sure that Les Paul is a "Classic", and not a "1960" reissue. The unconvered pickups, greenish inlays, and top hats knobs with thumbcutters are all standard on the Classics.

Awesome guitars Backdrifter! You have a great eye for those beautiful backs!

One little thing that I don't even want to comment on, is that I'm pretty sure that Les Paul is a "Classic", and not a "1960" reissue. The unconvered pickups, greenish inlays, and top hats knobs with thumbcutters are all standard on the Classics.

Regardless, awesome post! Loved seeing all those beauties!

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Thanks much! Yes, I believe you are correct. It was not an "R0", as the new reissues are called. It had "1960" on the pickguard, and I think I got myself confused on lingo - too many damn guitars! The gentleman I bought it from used to work at Gibson and had owned it since new. He told me that it predated the custom shop R0, but was very similar in specs. It was a really nice guitar for sure, but ultimately not a keeper for me.

To be fair, I owned most of the guitars pictured for a few months at the most, so they weren't played much - by me anyway! I am definitely anal about my guitars, but I also play pretty mellow. I play out, but mostly at low key bars, wineries, etc. Never any rocking clubs. And beyond that, I'm a couch guitar hero. It's a lot easier to keep guitars looking new in those kinds of atmospheres. Not a lot of mosh pits going on while I'm playing jazz standards!

I'm relatively new to the forum. Just recently picked up my first bike.

I've been into guitar for about 6-7 years. My second job consists of audio repair to PA systems, guitar amps, home stereos, etc. I also occasionally build/mod guitar effects pedals as well. One of the best results is its opened my ears to music I wouldn't have given a chance before and I've made some friends in the process of buying/selling/repairing/modding gear.

My personal favorites are the Benedetto, the Borgouis, the orange Setzer (I just saw him play his Christmas show and my girlfriend loved the purple Gretsch like yours!) and being the owner of a doghair-finished Collings 290 and getting ready to order a D2 of course I really loved your City Limits Deluxe, and that D1 with the western sunburst! That flamed maple Paragon was also gorgeous! I would love to find a great deal on pretty, flamed maple dreadnought, just because I think it's one of the prettiest instruments made, but I've never been able to fall in love with the sound of an all-maple dread. The all-mahogany D1 was also pretty cool, and something you just don't see very often. I just got a deep-body Martin OO in all mahogany, and I love the mellow, woody tone it has. I've never heard an all-mahogany D1 and I'm guessing it has more of that woodiness that the spruce-topped D1, which have such great volume and articulation. I'm a sucker for a big sound, so right now I'm leaning toward a D2 with a german adirondack top. If I didn't already have a Martin with a pretty sunburst I'd also go for that western sunburst, but I think I'm going very traditional on my D2, no neck binding and a very simple headstock. As much as I love a little bling, I want my first really nice dreadnought to be a very simple instrument. After that will be a blonde City Limits Deluxe with a quilted maple top, and a flamed I-35 with a root beer sunburst! Given the style of music you play and your obvious love for Collings' instruments, I'm kind of surprised I didn't see an I-35 on your list!

I've was surfing eBay today looking at original '57 Les Paul Jr's, and that's never a good thing, especially since I did my taxes the other day and I'm actually getting a decent and unexpected refund!